Hi Platt [Ant mentioned] -- On 8/31 Platt wrote: > Since Ant has cited Peck as an authority on the "self," I thought it > appropriate to pass along the following quote from Mr. Peck that not only > acknowledges the reality of self but suggests that "giving up of self" is > an act he nor anybody else can or should do: > > "There is no such thing as an unselfish person. I myself am totally > selfish. > Strictly speaking I've never done a thing for anyone else. When I water my > flowers I don't say, 'Look, flowers, what I'm doing for you . . . you > ought > to be grateful.' I do it because I like pretty flowers. When I extend > myself > for my children, it's because I want to have an image of myself as a good > father. You could look at monks and nuns and think how unselfish they are. > But they have decided that this is the best way to personal joy." (Bottom > Line, May 15, 1991) > > I think it's well to remember that to become "enlightened," as seems to be > the goal of many here, is itself a selfish, individual goal. Instead, I > agree > with many Buddha masters that "your everyday and ordinary consciousness, > that is the Tao." (The Spectrum of Consciousness, Ken Wilber, p.298) > > No dreams, drugs or other altered states required.
I think your points are well taken. Ayn Rand once said that there is no such thing as a truly altruistic person. On introspection, an honest individual will come to realize that nothing is more valuable than his own self. This isn't egoism; it's the way cognizant creatures are born. I call it rational self-directed value. Without the "I am" there is no "that is", and realizing the value of "what is" is the cosmic purpose of the individual self. Contemplating the Oneness of reality is not "giving up the self", but integrating the self in the absolute fullness of Essence. Actually, that's consistent with the belief system of Taoism and most of Eastern mysticism, although the mystical approach is usually expressed in psychosomatic rituals and poetry rather than through intuitive reasoning and metaphysical exposition. Thanks for quoting "the other side" of Peck, Platt. Essentially yours, Ham Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
